Cleanup Crew

[tim_coville_]

Hey guy's, I am thinking about my clean up crew....

I have been shopping online and have in my shopping cart so far are:

- 2 peppermint shrimp
- 2 emerald crabs
- 48 Small Blueleg hermits
- 12 Cerith Snails
- 12 Turbo Snails

Do you think that will help my tank out?

On my existing liverock I have a lot of hair algea forming plus, I am noticing some yellow algea on my rocks ( I don't think its coraline algea)

Any suggestions? My tank is almost ready for inverts, I tested my water.

My salt is level is right where it should be, my ammonia/nitrites are almost close to zero, soon my tank should be ready.

Thanks...

[Sugar Magnolia]

Tim, fill in your tank profile under your "profile" in the toolbar above.

2 peps are fine, 2 emeralds are fine, but keep in mind that others have had issues with these being opportunistic feeders, including corals. IME this hasn't happened to me.

12 cerith...depends on the tank size. I'd add at least as many nassarius snails along with the ceriths. They are great detritus eaters and will aslo keep the sand bec stirred.

12 turbos may be a bit much. 1 per 30 gallons is about the limit. They are strictly algae eaters and will starve without sufficient algae.

You may also want to look into some trochus or strombus snails to add some more diversity to the system. And if stomatellas are available locally, snap them up!!

[Doctor_Reef]

I agree with SM on the cleanup crews and also with the warning about the emeralds and peps being opportunistic feeders....I have had peps kill and eat some small feather dusters...and emeralds that have munched on some coral....not always but sometimes....

[Telco Guy]

I also agree. I would also add that you may want to look in to using Mexican Red Leg hermits instead of some or all of those blue legs. The mex reds legs will eat cyano in addition to being good cleaners of detritus and other algaes. One place you can find them is >>Here (http://www.fishsupply.com/cgi-bin/f2/common/store.cgi?dbname=f2&path=top/C/CB/CBM00)<<. These are not the Scarlet Hermits that sell for a lot more, but IMO these are worth more because of what they will eat.

[Doctor_Reef]

Good observation Nick....I always forget about those Mexican Red Legs....I have em and just forget about them....Very good in a tank!!! :)

[Amphibious]

Putting that many critters into a newly established tank could cause a cycling event, depending on the size of the set-up. What size is your tank?

[Doctor_Reef]

Amphibious...I think it is a 90 gal bow front.... :)

[blennyluv]

i have had blue legs eat all my turbos
i thought you were suppose to have on turbo, (the small kind) per gallon of water??? also had problems with my pepps eating my little snails. they don't seem to bother the big turbos....